Skin and plumage changes in domestic birds. II. Plumage changes]

The study describes plumage modifications and specific feather malformations, as related to the domestication process of different poultry species. The modifications include naked necks, leg feathering, frizzle feathering, silky feathering, fat quills, and feather abnormalities caused by behavioural hypertrophies. Most of these plumage modifications correspond to the breed standard for exhibition poultry fancy. However, they impair the normal function of these animals. The negative influences comprise disorders in social behaviour, loss of typical plumage functions and disabilities of normal mobility, as well as genetic defects and pathogenic predispositions.     

Use of 64Copper Measurements to Diagnose Canine Copper Toxicosis

Inherited canine copper toxicosis is a serious problem in Bedlington terriers and West Highland White terriers, and may also be a problem in other less-studied breeds. Affected dogs become ill at midlife with progressive and ultimately fatal liver disease. Treatments for removal of copper and prevention of copper accumulation are available, but are most effective if begun before the dog becomes ill. Until recently diagnosis has not been available until the dog is 1 year of age, and then only by an invasive liver biopsy with determination of liver copper concentration. The authors studied the use of 64copper for early diagnosis of canine copper toxicosis. Two procedures were evaluated. The first involved measuring the concentration of 64copper in blood 24 hours after oral administration of the radioisotope. At this time, 64copper was associated primarily with ceruloplasmin secreted into the blood by the liver. This procedure is useful in the diagnosis of the human counterpart, Wilson's disease. However, the authors found it to be nondiscriminatory between affected and unaffected dogs. In contrast, the second procedure, which involved measuring 64copper excreted in stool during 48 hours after an intravenous dose of radioisotope, yielded results that differentiated most affected and unaffected dogs.     

Effectiveness of Cabergoline for Termination of Pregnancy in Silver Fox (Vulpes vulpes fulva)

Red foxes ( Vulpes vulpes ) are a major pest species in Europe and Australia. Traditional methods of control such as hunting or poisoning are no longer sufficient or feasible. As with domestic dogs and cats, prolactin (PRL) in the vixen is an essential luteotropin during the second half of gestation. Hence, PRL inhibitors such as cabergoline have been used to induce abortions. Eighteen mated silver fox vixens (three groups of six foxes each) were treated orally with a placebo of paraffin oil (I), or with 15  μ g/kg cabergoline in feed once (II) or twice (III), on day 30 (I and II) or days 30 and 32 (III) post-coitum. Blood samples were taken prior to and after treatments and concentrations of PRL and progesterone (P₄) were determined. Normal parturitions were observed in five of six, five of six and two of six vixens in groups I, II and III, respectively. In group III plasma concentrations of PRL and P₄ decreased significantly but only temporarily. This drop in hormone concentrations was more pronounced in the vixens that did not carry to term. In conclusion, doses in excess of 15  μ g/kg of cabergoline are likely to prevent the development of fetuses to term in pregnant vixens.     

Evaluation of Transmittance and Reflectance Pulse Oximetry in a Canine Model of Hypotension and Desaturation

Ten, anesthetized dogs were instrumented with three pulse oximeter probes; two lingual transmittance probes and one rectal reflective probe. Arterial oxygen desaturation was produced by decreasing the inspired oxygen concentration. Hypotension was produced with an infusion of nitroprusside. Simultaneous pulse oximeter readings (SpO₂) were compared to co-oximeter measured arterial saturation (SaO₂) collected over a range of SaO₂ (50–100%) and mean arterial pressures (40–100mmHg). Each of the monitors and means of evaluating SpO₂ studied provided accurate SpO₂ measurements over a range of mean arterial pressure from 40–100mmHg. All of the monitors tested tended to overestimate the SaO₂ when the arterial saturation was less than 70%.     

ULTRASONOGRAPHIC DETECTION OF FOREIGN BODIES IN SOFT TISSUES USING TURKEY MUSCLE AS A MODEL

Foreign bodies in the soft tissues are frequent problems in both veterinary and human medical practice. Radiography has been the principle tool for diagnosis, but is unable to define many foreign bodies. This study was undertaken to compare the sonographic and radiographic visualization for a variety of foreign bodies. Fresh turkey muscle (pectoral and thigh) with skin was used as the soft tissue model. Assorted foreign bodies were introduced 1 cm into the muscle. Materials examined were small wood fragments, steel wire, glass, nails, graphite, rock, BB pellets, and polystyrene plastic. Following introduction of the foreign bodies radiographs were obtained and the specimens were studied sonographically at 5.0 mHz and 7.5 mHz. All foreign bodies were visible with sonography. A bright echo with either acoustic shadowing or reverberations was present for all specimens. Radiographically metallic foreign bodies were visible but wood, some graphite, and plastic were not seen. We conclude that radiography should remain the primary imaging modality for foreign body detection because of its general availability and low cost. If radiography is negative ultrasound can detect and guide the removal of radiolucent foreign bodies.     

Shenzhen in China's Financial Center Networks

Shenzhen, China, aspires to be an international financial center; however, its financial sector occupies an anomalous position in China's networks. The sector is tightly integrated into mainland networks, and Shenzhen's local banks provide access to Hong Kong's networks. Nonetheless, the city's proximity to Hong Kong, the Asia‐Pacific center of financial networks, confers few incremental benefits compared to those received by other mainland centers. The proposed Qianhai financial district, which is to be a laboratory for opening China's capital accounts, does not differentially boost Shenzhen because other financial centers will be allowed to experiment. A network theory of financial centers provides the explanatory framework for interpreting Shenzhen in China's financial center networks. Empirical analyses focus on Shenzhen's network ties with the Mainland and with Hong Kong. Shenzhen's future rests on the capacity of its financial firms to participate in the networks of South China, as well as to operate across the Mainland.     

Striatal nondopaminergic neurons: possible involvement in feeding and drinking behavior

Intracaudate injections of kainic acid destroy striatal neurons containing acetylcholine and gamma-aminobutyric acid but leave dopaminergic nerve terminals in this brain region intact. Rats injected with the drug are aphagic and adipsic, and have other behavioral abnormalities strikingly similar to those seen in animals with lesions in the dopaminergic nigrostriatal bundle.     

Application of an enzyme-immunoassay (EIA) for rapid screening of 5 alpha-pregnane-3,20-dione (DHP) in blood plasma of the Asian elephant, Elephas maximus.

Populations of African (Loxodonta Africana) and Asian Elephants (Elephas maximus) in zoos and safari parks are at risk due to their low reproductive success. To extend the limited knowledge of their reproductive physiology, the development of easy and practical methods for the analysis of the relevant reproductive hormones is essential to support e.g. assisted reproduction. For the measurement of 5 alpha-pregnane-3,20-dione (DHP), the predominant ovarian gestagen in both species, an enzyme-immunoassay (EIA) based on commercial reagents was applied. Advantages of this EIA are the small volume of plasma needed for evaluation (5 microliters) and the possibility of direct processing without an extraction stage. The lower limit of detection was 0.16 ng/ml, the mean recovery was 101% and the mean coefficients of variation were 7.3% (intra-assay) and 9.9% (inter-assay). In Asian elephants, DHP levels reached 15 ng/ml during the luteal phase and up to 21 ng/ml during pregnancy. Estrous cycle lengths based on the lowest DHP concentrations varied from 12 to 20 weeks (mean 15.4 +/- 2.3). In two Asian elephant cows a calf was still-borne. Thereafter, the animals reassumed ovarian activity after approximately 8 and 13 weeks, respectively. In one animal estradiol implants for hormonal contraception caused a down regulation of the ovarian function as demonstrated by an irregular pattern of DHP secretion over a period of 48 weeks. We propose the direct DHP-EIA as a suitable method for reproductive monitoring in elephants, as it can be easily established in laboratories.